Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-01
NATIONAL SEED SHgP.
The Argument of An Agricultural Paper
Against Seed Distributor.

At the recent meeting of the Western
New York Horticultural Society strong
resolutions were Introduced by Mr.. j. S.
Woodward, who has been elected secre-
tary OF the New York State Agricultural
Society, condemning the methods of dis
tributing seeds by the Department Of Ag
riculture at Washington. The resoiutio
reads as follows:
"Resolved, that we regard the annual
distribution of seeds and plants by the
Department of Agriculture. at Washing
ton as q great waste of the peoples
money, an insult to the people to whom
sent, disgrace to the nation, and we de.
mand that it be abolished, or at least no
longer be done in the name of Bgri-
culture"
This is pretty strong indictment of
the practice. Whether the author of the
resolutions would condemn the principle
of distributing seeds by The general gov
eminent, or simply the methods en-
ployed, we cannot say, but we would op-
pose both the principle and the way in
which the law is Carried out. We believe
that it is the exercise of powers not con-
ferred upon the government by the peo-
pie, and that the way in which the law is
executed renders it a detriment rather
than benefit to those who are the recip-
tents of seeds
4 great many people are urging our
government to do what It has no right TO
dc; to engage in business for the benefit
Of the people; TO assume and exercise the
functions of a paternal government. Such
people in our opinion, forget the true
theory of Democratic government. Au
tocratiC governments claim to exist by
Divine right and authority con-
ferred by the Supreme Ruler upon
some ancestor, and descending by in
heritance to certain members of the royal
family. Hence, for the people to elect
ruler would be in opposition to the d.
vine will and law, would be wicked and
sacriligious. The ruler thus endowed
with sovereignty may enact such laws as
he thinks best. He Is the secular father
OF the people, and, while he has q RICH.
to their time aud service, and even their
lives, if necessary, he may also engage in
enterprises to beBetit his subjects.
In Z democracy, or republic, such as
ours, we hold that sovereignty is confer
red by the Creator directly upon the indi-
vidual. That the Individual mas the right
to lie, liberty, property, and the right to
way he thinks viii best promote
his happiness, providing that in
doing SC re does not infringe upon
the equal Fights of others. In forming a
republican government these equal sover-
eigns organize and choose, presumably,
some of the wisest and best among them
to enact laws 70 protect the people in the
endowment of their natural rights against
rEri-i nj or vii bn lip
who might be disposed to violate taem.
These sovereigus also choose men to exc
cute or enforce the laws enacted for their
protection.
To compensate the enactors and ex-
ecutors of the laws for their protection,
the people consent to rel!nquisn the SOW
ereign control of SO much OF their prop
erty as may be necessary to that end,
and contribute OF their means in proper
ZION to the protection enjoyed. If the
representatives of the people exact, in
the form of taxes, more of the earnings of
the people than is necessary tor the
economical administration Of Il just and
wise government, they usurp powers not
belonging to them, become unjust and
tyrannlcal.
SO long as government limits its func-
tions to the simple matter of protection
against the lawless and disOrderly, in So
ciety, or against invasion from without, it
is much more likely to meet out equal and
exact Justice to all than if it should eX-
coed lis Just powers of protecting and at
tempt to promote and foster the interests
of a portion of the people at the expense
of all. When government attempts TO
transact the business OF the people, it IS
very apt to take the earnings of portion
of the people for the benefit of another
portion, il violation of the sacred rights
of property, and at the same time it be-
comes competitor with The people in
that very business.
Let US take for illustration, one OF tie
least Objectionable and most beueiicent
Of all the kinds of business in which our
government is engaged, that of the trans
mission of letters, papers, etc. In that
business she takes of people in the more
thicklY settled portions more than double
the cost OF carrying their mails, that mails
may be carried TO the more sparsely
settled portions where the cost OF
transmission several times exceeds the
amounts received. There is little doubt
that l cent an ounce would be ample
compensation for carrying letters in the
more densely populated portions OF our
country. II SO, whatever more is eN
acted is injustice, is robbery. We do not
say that we would abolish the Postotfice
Department of government, we simply re-
fer to it to show how one OF the most
benefcent, paternsl operations of the
general government works injustice to
the individual.
Let US take the practice denounced in /
the resolution passed by the horticultural
society. The government takes the !
money OF the people to buy seeds for
portion of the people. We have iudivid- J
uals, in every part of the country, en-
gagged in the very laudable business of
raising, buying and importing seeds, put !
ting them up in packages, large and
small, and selling them to farmers and
gardeners. Seeds of grain, seeds of veg
etables, seeds of fruits aud seeds of
flowers are distributed wherever wanted
oy these enterprising seedmen. So far
Ms government enters into the business
of distributing seeds she becomes COM
petitor with private enterprise, and does
Injustice to those citizens who have EN-
barked their money, time ard energies in
the business.
We suppose the original intention OF
the law providing for seed distribution
was IN iutroduce from foreign countries